Interview with Karen Fister Miller, June 27, 2018

Partial Transcript: We're here with Karen Fister Miller.

Segment Synopsis: Miller describes her early exposure to cheerleading at the University of Kentucky. She talks about how she came to know T. Lynn Williamson, the head coach. She also provides her background, talking about her family and where she went to school in Lexington. Miller also talks about cheerleading in high school, as well as her other activities and hobbies in high school.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.

Subjects: School sports--Coaching.; Sports.

Partial Transcript: What was behind your decision to attend the University of Kentucky, and was it driven by cheerleading or was it driven by your area of academic interest?

Segment Synopsis: Miller describes her reasons for coming to the University of Kentucky, noting the importance of cheerleading itself as a reason. She also notes the transitions that cheerleading as a sport was going through at the time, becoming more competitive.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Cheerleading competitions

Subjects: Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So you were on the very first national championship team.

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about winning the University of Kentucky's first national championship victory in cheerleading. She describes the process for advancing in the championship as well as whom she considered UK's biggest rivals. Miller notes the public relations presence and the celebrities she came into contact with. She also talks briefly about the reception the squad received on their return home following the victory.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Cheerleading competitions; National championships

Subjects: Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, I'll fast-forward a little bit now and ask you about your second championship, and what do you recall and remember about that trip? Was it in the same location?

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about the second championship victory and how it was affected by an accident that had happened just prior. She talks once again about who she considered the most prominent rivals her squad went up against. Miller also is asked about the nature of her family, to which she answers that her cheerleading squad-mates were her family.

Keywords: Accidents; Cheerleading; Cheerleading competitions.; Family; Friends; National championships

Subjects: Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; Families.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And let me just ask you about that night.

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about the night of Dale Baldwin's accident. She talks about the safety of some of their stunts. Miller also considers the effect that the accident had on their future students, to which she says that this was a sole occurrence. She talks about who her partners were during her time as a cheerleader.

Keywords: Cheerleading accidents; Dale Baldwin; Paraplegic

Subjects: Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, Dale has been an inspiration to not only the UK cheerleading alumni but to many, many others. And what he has done with the alumni group is nothing short of remarkable.

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about all the work that had been put into Dale Baldwin's alumni database. She describes the challenges of finding former cheerleaders, particularly females, even with the help of social media and cold calling. She also talks briefly about her own family.

Keywords: Alumni database; Cheerleading accidents; Cheerleading alumni; Dale Baldwin; Paraplegic

Subjects: Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; Families.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: And I'd like to ask you, what do you feel contributed to the success of this team?

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about what she thinks made the team successful. She notes the impact of the fans as well as the close bonds the cheerleaders had with each other. She also briefly discusses her major while at the University of Kentucky.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Cheerleading competitions

Subjects: Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, let me ask you, do you still, um, keep in close contact with members of that championship team?

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about her current relationship with her former teammates and whether she remains in contact with them. Miller also describes T. Lynn Williamson's leadership style and why it was helpful to their team back when she was a cheerleader.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Cheerleading competitions; T. Lynn Williamson

Subjects: Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Let's talk about next, the inter-dependency that exists between members on a UK national championship cheerleading squad.

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about the experience of being a cheerleader. She describes the amount of trust that was built up among the team over time. She also notes the differences in pressure on male cheerleaders. Miller talks about the differences between performing on a basketball court over a football stadium, but states she had no preferences.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Cheerleading competitions; Female cheerleaders; Male cheerleaders; Men; Trust; Women

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Well, let's talk about the try-outs, because that's a whole process, and a whole important element of this thing we call UK cheerleading.

Segment Synopsis: Miller describes the try-out process. She talks about how she prepared for the try-out and who she worked with to prepare. She also describes the judges that were present. She talks about what questions they asked and how she found out she had made the team.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Cheerleading competitions; Try-outs

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, Karen, do you consider yourself more of an introvert or an extrovert?

Segment Synopsis: Miller describes her personality type, and the nuances of her introversion and extroversion. She also considers the personalities of the cheerleading squad. She also tells a story of an upperclassman loaning her a dress to wear for her try-outs.

Keywords: Extroverts; Introverts; Personalities; Personality

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, what memories do you have of traveling with the team during those two years that you were on the national championship team? Do you have any special memories about specific games? Experiences? Tournaments?

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about traveling with the cheerleading team. She describes a memorable experience where a trip to Utah ended with an explosion. She also talks about visiting Japan and the reception the team received performing there.

Keywords: Japan; Traveling; Utah

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: So, did you find yourself interacting with the basketball team? Football team? On a--just a personal basis?

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about interacting with the basketball and football teams. She lists several players that she came to know. Miller also describes several players that ended up dying young and her thoughts on those losses. She talks about her current career working for an insurance company and her thoughts on coming to the university campus frequently. She also notes the careers of her cheerleading squad, talking about the prominence of doctors and CEOs among their number.

Keywords: Basketball players; Careers; Employment; Football players; Jobs; University of Kentucky basketball; University of Kentucky cheerleading; University of Kentucky football

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky--Basketball; University of Kentucky--Football

Partial Transcript: So, did you find, um, enough time to study? And did you find inspiration from your fellow cheerleaders who obviously had to study to have the careers that they have these days?

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about how she and other cheerleaders were able to study considering their busy schedules. She also describes the challenge of going to the national championship at the same time of the semester as finals, and explains how the team was able to convince the coach to allow them to go. Miller talks about the differences between being a cheerleader in the 1980s and today, saying that cheerleaders today have much more work and need to be much more skilled than her generation was.

Keywords: Cheerleading; Cheerleading competitions; College students; National championships

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: I have a theory that the professors and coaches that we have here, uh, during our time at the University of Kentucky directly contribute to the success that we all experience later in life.

Segment Synopsis: Miller considers the influence that professors and coaches had on her experience and how they led to her current success. In particular, she notes the role that T. Lynn Williamson played as a coach and how she did not appreciate at the time all the work he was doing. Broadly, she also considers the role other cheerleaders played as influences and inspirations.

Keywords: Professors; T. Lynn Williamson; University of Kentucky faculty

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Any really funny stories that you remember or recall? Funny things that happened?

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about the Wildcat mascot as always the funniest member of the team. She talks about who she remembered as being in the costume as well as the existence of mascot national championships. She also talks about the physical and emotional strength needed to perform everything that mascots needed to do during a game.

Keywords: Mascots; University of Kentucky mascot; Wildcat

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: What do you like about what Jomo Thompson, as the head coach of the UK cheerleaders, has done for this university and this, I guess, streak, that just keeps continuing?

Segment Synopsis: Miller talks about the accomplishments and talents of the current head cheerleading coach, Jomo Thompson. She describes what qualities he has that make him a good coach. She also talks about the importance of diversity on the cheerleading team. Miller talks about the differences between cheerleading generations once again.

Keywords: Diversity; Jomo Thompson; University of Kentucky cheerleading

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; School sports--Coaching.; University of Kentucky

Partial Transcript: Is there anything else that you would like to talk about before we end our time today? Any other special memories?

Segment Synopsis: Miller offers her final thoughts on her University of Kentucky cheerleading experience. She talks about everything she loved about being at the university, noting the importance of the people. She also considers the importance of T. Lynn Williamson's legacy and her respect for his hard work.

Keywords: T. Lynn Williamson; University of Kentucky; University of Kentucky cheerleading

Subjects: Cheerleading; Cheerleading--1980-1990.; Cheerleading--Competitions.; Cheerleading--History.; Cheerleading--United States--History.; Cheerleading--United States.; University of Kentucky